THE SEASON starts here.  Saturday sees the return of the flat and the William Hill Lincoln.  A race that all at Red House are particularly fond of after our very own Our Rita lifted the prize some 14 years ago.  Always a fiercely competitive race there have been many ante-post casualties as the top 22 stood their ground eliminating the projected first and second favourite.  With a large amount of rain expected in the next few hours it will probably be worth siding with an individual who has already shown form on a slower surface.  One such horse is Richard Hannon’s Vitznau.  A progressive three-year-old last season, he rounded off the campaign with a luckless staying-on second over 7f at Newmarket on soft ground.  Previously he had shown more than useful form when running well in big handicaps including when second to Cambridgeshire-second Docofthebay.  Hannon’s horses don’t usually fail for lack of fitness and with Vitznau already proven in the hurly burly of big handicaps I think he could well be competitive of a lowish mark of 97.  Before the big race there is the 6f WilliamHill.co.uk Cammidge Trophy, a race that has been won by subsequent Group One winners Les Arcs and La Cucaracha in recent seasons this year’s renewal looks a belter.  As has become the norm in British sprints there is a mix of useful handicappers, Group horses and veterans but one horse that certainly should be capable of at least claiming a prize at this level this season is Wi Dud.  The speedy son of Elnadim ran well in many of the top sprint events last season but was inconvenienced by being a three-year-old racing against his elders.  He should improve for being a year older and has already shown very useful form on soft ground when runner up in the Gimcrack and Middle Park as a two-year-old.  Receiving up to 5lbs from the top runners he should go well at the very least before possibly going on to a fruitful campaign in sprint races during the up and coming season.   

Selections – 3.25 Doncaster, 16 Wi Dud